Scaffolding suspending device



March 29, 1960 H. c. SMITH 2,930,565

SCAFFOLDING SUSPENDING DEVICE Filed May 2, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. OWARD C. SMITH ATTORNEY March 29; 1960 H. c. SMITH 2,930,565

SCAFFOLDING SUSPENDING DEVICE Filed May 2, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 0 Z 0 38 C 3s INVENTOR. HOWARD C. SMITH QMQSQMMQ TORNEY United States Patent 2,930,565 SCAFFOLDING SUSPENDING DEVICE Howard C. Smith, Secane, Pa., assignor to Sun Oil Company, Philadelphia, Pa., a corporation of New Jersey Application May 2, 1958, Serial No. 732,614 2 Claims. (Cl. 248-228) This invention relates to improvements in portable hangers for scaffolds and particularly to that class of hangers which are designed to frictionally engage structural members when suspending scaflolding.

In general, hangers used for this purpose are shown as hooks, usually pivotally connected, designed to clamp on a structural feature of the structural member such as the bottom flange of an I or H beam. The full force of the gripping strength of the hanger is thus thrown on the pivot pin. Should this element fail, the clamping jaws will open and no longer hold the hanger in position.

Invariably the present art illustrates such clamping devices to be engaged upwardly from the under side of the structural member. This handling requirement is awkward and dangerous, and gives no opportunity to assure the rigger that the hanger is safe for use before putting the load on the device.

The hanger disclosed here is designed to overcome these weaknesses and objections to presently known devices and insure non-slipping scaffold support. Broadly the hanger is comprised of two unconnected bracket members with non-slipping surfaces arranged to oppose each other. The upper part of each bracket member is shaped to extend toward the opposed member and is terminated by an upright lug element. An eccentrically apertured, rotatable lever is adapted to engage the lugs and draw the bracket members together. By this means the hanger is drawn into frictional engagement with the vertical portion of the structural member. The lug mounting portion of the bracket in each case is shaped to pass around a flanged portion of the structural member, if any. Locking means holds the lever in place and locks the bracket members in engagement. Additional flexible members, or ties, are included to maintain the brackets in pairs and to assist in positioning them.

The simplicity and advantages of this device will be evident on reading the following description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is an elevational view of the device in gripping engagement with a structural steel member,

Figure 2 is an elevational view of the device as assembled while not in use,

Figure 3 shows the device in one step of the assembly procedure prior to gripping a standard construction timber, and

Figure 4 is an elevational view in perspective of the device of Figure 3 assembled in gripping arrangement.

now to Figure l, a pair of identical brackets 10 and 12, shaped to position friction members 14 and 16, respectively, in opposition to each other, form the primary elements of the disclosed gripping device. In this figure the device is shown gripping an I beam 18 in operating position. A lever 20 of the cam type is slotted to engage opposed lugs 22 and 24. These lugs are extended across the top of the brackets into juxtaposed relation to each other from the other edge of the brackets. The brackets are apertured beneath the opposed lugs to avoid the flange of the structural member 18 and supply 2,930,565 Patented Mar."29",' 1960 2 a lever action urgmg the brackets into gripping engagement.

The remaining Figures 2, 3 and 4 of the drawings show these two primary brackets 10 and 12 with the friction members 14 and 16 in operating positions. For example, Figure 2 shows the device as it would be arranged either for storage or immediately before use. Brackets 10 and 12 are held in matched relation as by a storage lock. As illustrated this lock is a simple link 26 performing the function of a typical hasp, with a staple 28 and securing pin 30. By this means the brackets are joined together as a unit preliminary to lifting into gripping engagement with a structural member. 3

Before describing the steps of-placing the gripping device in operating position, theassociated elements assist-' ing in its function will be described. Each bracketsupports a flexible connector shown here as chains 32 and 34 connected to brackets 10*and 12, respectively. In this illustration bolted supports 36 and 38 connect the chains 32 and 34 to the outermost corners of the respective bracket members. Thuspositioned a mechanical advan tage is achieved as will be discussed later. These con: nectors or chains 32 and 34 suspend scaffold members, rigging apparatus and the like as required.

Additionally, other chains are connected to the brackets serving several purposes. A lift chain 40 with stirrup 42 is the means for raising the latched-together brackets into engaging position with a placed structural member. Another chain, designated as the support chain 44, also member, connects the brackets together. As shown the lift and support chains 40 and 44 are connected to the brackets at holes arranged conveniently in the lug extensions. These holes also serve for chain connectors anchoring the lever 20 and anchor pin 46 used in conjunction therewith.

link 26,

gripping position can now all be done from the top of the timber member 50.

of lever 20 draws the lugs together. Then, inserting pin 46 through one of the holes provided in a matching hole in place.

the lever into provided in bracket 12 locks the brackets much movement of the lever Wlll draw the lugs closer together than is required to grip structural member is disclosed. As only the web of the structural member is engaged, and this done by a surface in frictional contact, all reliance on books, grapples and connected pins is removed. The device, in addition to being simple in construct-ion, is safe to erect. All con: nections and locking operations are completed above the structural member to which the device ia'stens. One lever operation locks the device :in position, and :it is capable of test for safety before hanging a load on it. Disengagement, recovery and storage are equally facilitated and assure the complete operating device being assembled .for subsequent operations.

1 claim:

1.,A gripping device for suspending scaffolding from a structural member comprising a pair of disconnected opposedv friction members, a :support attached to each of said friction members and extending substantially perpendicular thereto, twoconnecting elements one integral with each of the two supportgeach of said elements extending above its respective support and the :two elements extending inwardly into juxtaposition with each other above the opposed friction members, lever means adapted to engage said connecting elements and draw said sup ports and said friction members toward each other and into operating contact with the structural member, and a rigid pin engaging said lever means and one of said eleopposed bracket members, a

ments toflockthe same together upon the drawing of said friction members toward each other and into operating contact with the structural member.

2. A'gripping device for suspending scaffolding from a structural member comprising a pair of disconnected separate scaffold support fastened to the lower portion of each respective bracket member, two connecting elements one integral with each of the two bracket members, each of said elements extending above its respective bracket member and the two elements extending inwardly into juxtaposition with each other above the structural member, a lever eccentrically apertured to engage the connecting elements and draw said bracket members toward each other, and locking means engaging the lever and one of said bracket members to lock the same together upon the drawing of said bracket members toward each other.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

